Jersey Girl

September 24, 2017. It's time to close in the hull, starting with bottom panels. I've decided to use the services of Chesapeake Light Craft, in Annapolis, Md., to deliver plywood panels that are pre-cut with finger joints, formed on their huge computer numerically controlled routing table. Traditionally, multiple sheets of plywood were joined to increase length by using "scarf" joints -- gradual tapers planed into the the edges of the plywood with an 8-to-1 ratio of length to thickness, then glued and clamped. But I think using CLC's finger joints will save me a lot of time and give me a more positive connection. You may notice those signatures on the piece of plywood near the stern. I celebrated the installation of the first hull panel by inviting friends to come over and participate in the drilling screwing and gluing. When we finished, they all signed their names to the work. Of course, they'll all eventually be covered over with paint, but we all know they're there.

Sept. 25, 2017: Here's the inside surface of the second bottom panel, prepared for installation. Each of these hull panels will be sealed with epoxy and fiberglass fabric before being installed, because it's easier to do it on saw horses than working upside-down while lying on my back under the growing hull. It's still a little tacky so I'll wait until tomorrow to install that and then I'll get back to other fiberglassing jobs in the stern compartments. So that's it for today. Tomorrow is another day.

Sept. 28, 2017. Some say that with a long enough lever and a well placed fulcrum, you can move the world. That may be on my bucket list, but for now, I am satisfied with bending half-inch marine plywood around the curve of the bow of the hull of the houseboat-to-be. It might be easier with run-of-mill construction-grade plywood from the big box home center, but with this high quality seven-layer cake that's certified by Lloyd's of London to have no internal voids, bending seems not to be in its nature. "How can you possibly bend it?" asked an architect friend. "I'll bend it with my mind," I said. And so I did, with the help of six long bar clamps. By the way, I deliberately used an over-long sheet of plywood, knowing that I could use the extra length as a lever to help muscle it into position. Today the houseboat; tomorrow the world!

Oct. 1, 2017: I have started work on the side panels of the hull. The thin batten tacked temporarily to the curve of the bow is to tell me how to cut the panel and its supporting framework in that area. I will fasten a cedar plank to the bulkhead ends and trace the curve of the batten onto the plank. Then, I will cut the plank on the traced line, and use it as a template for the side panel at the bow.

Oct. 1, 2017 (part 2): The curve of the side panel frame is pretty good for a first pass. Now, I have to plane it into a sweet curve with no lumps and bumps, and work in the bevel to make sure all the panels in this area lie down as they are intended. Then, when I'm sure I have it just right, I will unscrew the parts and check them for approximate fit on the other side, even though I know the bevel will be reversed. Then, I'll use the parts as templates for the other side. My goal for tomorrow is to get at least one full-length side panel glued up and installed. We'll see....